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How Solar Energy Works

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How Solar Energy Works - An Introduction

Most people actually see how solar energy works every day but most likely don’t even notice it or relate it to a solar energy system that could save them thousands of pounds on energy costs if only they bothered to find out about it.

I’m confident that at some point you have used a calculator with a solar window or used a parking meter that was powered by solar. The world around us is filling up with devices powered by solar energy and if you don’t believe me take a good hard look next time you use a telephone box or walk through a lit up car park.

The reality is that solar energy technology is popping up in the strangest of places., from sunglasses to electric vehicle charging stations and more recently from cars to solar powered air planes.

Lets Have A Look At How We Harness The Suns Rays To Create Solar Energy

First off I should tell you that solar cells or solar panels are also called photovoltaic (PV's) which as the name implies (photo meaning light and voltaic meaning electricity) convert sunlight directly into electricity.

A module is a group of cells connected electrically and packaged into a frame which is what is more commonly called a solar panel.

Photovoltaic cells are made of special materials called semiconductors such as silicon, which is currently used most commonly. Basically, when light strikes the cell, a certain portion of it is absorbed within the semiconductor material. This means that the energy of the absorbed light is transferred to the semiconductor. The energy knocks electrons loose, allowing them to flow freely.

PV cells also all have one or more electric field that acts to force electrons freed by light absorption to flow in a certain direction. This flow of electrons is a current, and by placing metal contacts on the top and bottom of the PV cell, we can draw that current off for external use, say, to power a calculator. This current, together with the cell's voltage (which is a result of its built-in electric field or fields), defines the power (or wattage) that the solar cell can produce.

Designing A Solar Energy System For A House

So what would you have to do to power your house with solar energy? Although it's not as simple as just slapping some modules on your roof, it's not extremely difficult to do, either.

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First of all, not every roof has the correct orientation or angle of inclination to take full advantage of the sun's energy. Non-tracking PV systems in the Northern Hemisphere should ideally point toward true south, although orientations that face in more easterly and westerly directions can work too, albeit by sacrificing varying degrees of efficiency.

Solar panels should also be inclined at an angle as close to the area's latitude as possible to absorb the maximum amount of energy year-round. A different orientation and/or inclination could be used if you want to maximise energy production for the morning or afternoon, and/or the summer or winter. Of course, the modules should never be shaded by nearby trees or buildings, no matter the time of day or the time of year. In a PV module, if even just one of its cells is shaded, power production can be significantly reduced.

If you have a house with an unshaded, southward-facing roof, you need to decide what size system you need. This is complicated by the facts that your electricity production depends on the weather, which is never completely predictable, and that your electricity demand will also vary. Luckily, these hurdles are fairly easy to clear. Meteorological data gives average monthly sunlight levels for different geographical areas. This takes into account rainfall and cloudy days, as well as altitude, humidity and other more subtle factors.

You should design for the worst month, so that you'll have enough electricity year-round. With that data and your average household demand (your utility bill conveniently lets you know how much energy you use every month), there are simple methods you can use to determine just how many PV modules you'll need. You'll also need to decide on a system voltage, which you can control by deciding how many modules to wire in series.

The use of batteries requires the installation of another component called a charge controller. Batteries last a lot longer if they aren't overcharged or drained too much. That's what a charge controller does. Once the batteries are fully charged, the charge controller doesn't let current from the PV modules continue to flow into them. Similarly, once the batteries have been drained to a certain predetermined level, controlled by measuring battery voltage, many charge controllers will not allow more current to be drained from the batteries until they have been recharged. The use of a charge controller is essential for long battery life.

The other problem besides energy storage is that the electricity generated by your solar panels, and extracted from your batteries if you choose to use them, is not in the form that's supplied by your utility or used by the electrical appliances in your house. The electricity generated by a solar system is direct current, so you'll need an inverter to convert it into alternating current. And like we discussed on the last page, apart from switching DC to AC, some inverters are also designed to protect against slanging if your system is hooked up to the power grid.

Most large inverters will allow you to automatically control how your system works. Some PV modules, called AC modules, actually have an inverter already built into each module, eliminating the need for a large, central inverter, and simplifying wiring issues.

Throw in the mounting hardware, wiring, junction boxes, grounding equipment, overcurrent protection, DC and AC disconnects and other accessories, and you have yourself a system. You must follow electrical regulations (there's a section in the National Electrical Code just for PV), and it's highly recommended that a licensed electrician who has experience with PV systems do the installation. Once installed, a PV system requires very little maintenance (especially if no batteries are used), and will provide electricity cleanly and quietly for 20 years or more.

TIP: Over 3,000 solar energy systems were installed in the UK in the past month. To find out if your property - residential or commercial - is suitable for a solar energy installation we recommend that you book a FREE Solar Survey or use our Enquiry Form to compare prices for a Solar Panels Installation.

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How Solar Energy Works Solar Panels Supermarket: Compare costs for Solar Panels Installation to Residential & Business Property Nationwide...

How Solar Energy Works

Solar Panels Supermarket: Compare costs for Solar Panels Installation to Residential & Business Property Nationwide...